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Happy New Greetings, Season's Holidays, and stuff like that. It's too cold out, there's approximately 100 feet of snow on the ground, and it's still way too long until Spring Training. But here I come to rescue you once more from those Winter Blah's. Now, seriously, even if you won money, wouldn't you rather wait until now to receive it along with these whims of fancy, instead of getting some cash in October and then going cold turkey all winter? Oh, yeah? Well, this is the best I can do, so deal with it.
First things first. It is, of course, Old News to everyone how in 1995 the amazing Skid Rowes were once on the "skids," then "rose" to yet another Good IV League championship, despite the loss of a full 16.5% of their Draft budget ($43) in the person of Ken Griffey, Jr., for over half the season. They also overcame the loss of Aaron Sele for most of the year, too, and got only half a season out of Juan Gonzalez and Lou Whitaker, both of whom started the year on the DL. This, his third run for the trophy, has to rank as Larry's best and most satisfying accomplishment. To add to his bragging rights, he also won his other league, of which he is Commissioner (how come I can't do that?). Finally, Larry capped off his champagne binge in November, by getting married to his newly anointed Vice President of in-house development, Nancy. Representatives of the Jay Jays and Cities attended the bash at the Parker House, although we resisted the urge to douse Larry in Yoo-Hoo.
So, congratulations of the highest order to our most enviable champion. But don't look over your shoulder, friend. The legacy of Frank Thomas is finally behind us, as 2 of those for whom Larry traded the Big Hurt in ‘94 (Valentin, Mussina) have now played out their options. Now the era of Manny Ramirez begins, but there are many of us gunning for you...
(See the Baseball Journal for the sections from this report on the Red Sox, the Hall of Fame, etc.)
Speaking of Next Year. Now, to whet your appetites and truly get your mind off the snow and on the Spring, here is just a brief overview of where the teams of the Good IV League currently sit, heading into the 1996 campaign. Maybe you haven't been paying as much attention as I have to all the off-season moves. With the strike last winter putting the sport on hold for 8 months, we had no time to follow the ebb and flow of team rosters. This year, there have been an average of 2 team moves per day since October. Now it's January and Spring Training is a month away: Do you know where your players are?
The Cities, naturally, are in a strong position after two straight last-place "rebuilding" campaigns, this one producing a bumper crop that includes Jeff Cirillo ($2), Shawn Green ($5), Alex Rodriguez ($7), Derek Jeter ($5), Garret Anderson ($15), Troy Percival ($5), Dave Stevens ($7), Ken Hill ($7), and Chad Ogea ($5), among numerous other Spring Training candidates. This is definitely going to be The Year. (By the way, I'm certainly open to trading some of these stud bargains for other stud bargains, if anyone wants to propose a deal.)
The Mountain Men fought tooth and nail for the title last year, only to succumb to age and injury at the end and settle for 3rd place. They have since lost Mike Blowers ($6), Gary Gaetti ($3), and Kevin Brown ($12) to the National League, and several key players (Salmon, Naehring, Hentgen) played out their options. They're now down to about 3-4 keepers, such as the ageless Chili Davis ($15), plus some possible high priced hitters (Buhner $30, Baerga $34) and borderline pitchers (Finley $15). Starting from scratch, for the most part.
The Pets made their run and fell a point short of the money, and enter the pre-season with several worthy investments. These include a full catching core (S. Alomar $3, Oliver $7), a couple of cheap good outfielders (Berroa $1, T. Goodwin $5), and several quality pitchers (Wakefield $5, Abbott $10, Gubicza $1, Lira $5, Tavarez $6). To come that close to winning and still carry over a solid core of keepers is a very good omen, I'd say. They also have Shane Mack for $5 if he comes home.
The champion Skid Rowes will start with much less ammunition (and more money) than they are accustomed to having at the Draft. Gone will be Valentin, Curtis, Gonzalez, R. Hernandez, Mussina, and Sele: that's an All Star team of expired contracts, which cost Larry an average of only $14 each last year, and will reap at least double that in the open auction. The Skids will not be without weapons, however, as they retain Higginson at $1, the revitalized JT Snow at $9, the aforementioned Ramirez ($20), and a couple of possible closers in Charlton ($5) and Belinda ($12). Oh yeah, and Larry just happened to take a flyer late in the year on Japan free agent Julio Franco for $5...the same Julio Franco who just signed with the Indians. Don't you just want to scream?
The vastly underrated Keller Kings came within a whisker of catching the Skids in the last couple of weeks, and the race was actually down to the post-season wire, since Randy Johnson's performance in the 1-game playoff with California counted in the standings. Just 6 more total bases, and the Kings would have tied for first. Ditto if the Skids had slipped .0002 in OBP, or missed out on 2 Wins. But, second place is still a worthy accomplishment. Unfortunately, Paul had to mortgage some of his future to get there, and he must now watch as long-time Kings Randy Velarde, Jim Thome, Randy Johnson, and Kenny Rogers go the free agent route. They leave behind slim pickin's: John Jaha ($6), Harold Baines ($16), maybe Palmeiro ($31), Brady Anderson ($21), and almost no sure-things for pitchers.
The suffering Hammerin' Eggerts finally got their name right this year, but almost nothing else went their way. They do, however, enter the Hot Stove season with a large contingent of low-priced performers, many of whom may be worth keeping. The strongest candidates, in terms of value-per-dollar, appear to be Rookie-of-the-Year Marty Cordova ($8), Jim Leyritz ($3), Kevin Seitzer ($6), Jim Edmonds ($8), plus Sterling Hitchcock ($1), and Jeff Russell ($7) if he lands another closer's job (say, back in Boston?). And there are still others, such as BJ Surhoff ($18) and Bernie Williams ($25) who could be worth their higher price tags, too. A good foundation, if the building is solid.
The good old Wilk-Freedman Jay Jays are no longer tied for most Good IV League championships, after a lackluster season in which principal partner Joel Freedman discovered the difficulties of running a franchise from across the country in Atlanta (a National League city, no less). Having seen the error of his ways, the rumor is now that he will accept a lucrative offer from Boston to relocate the team, and rejoin with his partner John Wilk to forge a new JJ dynasty. This may be difficult, as the J's only noticed their need to pursue rebuilding talent near the end of the dumping season, and have meanwhile lost many of their mainstay veterans (Steinbach, Tettleton, Sprague, O'Neill, Stottlemyre). Their core roster this winter consists of Mark McLemore ($2), Gary DiSarcina ($1), Jeffrey (the Anti-Ripken) Hammonds ($6 on a long-term deal), Eckersley ($14), plus the typical Jay Jay middle reliever-types: Wickman and Whiteside, $1 apiece.
The disappointing Mud Hens seemed stuck in the middle most of the season. They never really got to enjoy their semi-championship of '94, and when they pursued the same patented no- reliever strategy this year, it never quite got off the ground. But they hung around within sight of contention just long enough to avoid chasing any serious keepers until it was too late. Now, with the loss of key free agents (Tino Martinez, Omar Vizquel, Stan Javier, Alex Fernandez), this franchise must start over without much of a foundation. Those likely to be retained include John Flaherty ($5), Chris Gomez ($6), Rusty Greer ($15), and Kirby Puckett ($28), plus Erik Hanson ($11), maybe Chris Bosio ($11), and perhaps a reliever or two...if only to trade them. This is one hand where Steve and Charlie might want to toss back all the cards and call for a re-deal.
The Lipshutz Alberta Lippers (I finally got the meaning of that name recently, by the way) stayed within shooting distance of at least 3rd place right up to the end, riding the rather stunning late-season performances of both Albert Belle and Edgar Martinez, not to mention rent- a-bat Bobby Bonilla. But their pickups on the pitching side turned into Killer B's (Benes, Bere, Boskie), and they fell just shy of the money. The future looks promising, however, as only Mike Stanley is lost to free agency, and the foundation of this team is strong. This includes pricey but worth it players such as Belle ($35) and Martinez ($28), as well as a nice group of cheap keepers in Karkovice ($5), Boggs ($13), Brosius ($2), Hamilton ($12), and Pavlik ($1).
Finally, the Legere Baby Boomers shared the dismal fate of the Cities, and began their rebuilding at the All Star break. As a result, they have a gang of low-priced talent that is possibly unmatched in the league, beginning with Jose Mesa for $1 (what moron offered them that trade?). In fact, you could make a case for retaining almost their entire pitching staff, especially guys like Hershiser ($8), Kamieniecki ($5), and Fetters ($11) (they did lose Leiter to Florida, however). They also have good values in Gil ($1), Alicea ($12), Tinsley ($6),and even Mark McGwire, whose half-season numbers last year were worth his $26 price tag.
I hope this is fodder for a long winter of plans, deals, and fantasies. Let's talk again around late February. By the way, let's plan the Draft early this year: before the season starts for a change? I propose Sunday, March 31, at 10:00 AM. I'm not sure where it should be - possibly my new house in Swampscott, but we'll see - but please let me know if you can set aside that date now, so we can at last have a Draft where we don't yet know that Kevin Gross has given up 9 runs in 3 innings, or Jamie McAndrew has scarfed an early-season win.
Oh, yeah. The money's enclosed if you won. If you still owed and you won, you get the difference. If you still owed and you didn't win, you still owe, and you know who you are. Call me some time.
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Copyright 1997 David N. Townsend